No levy in May for Liberty

Board may consider for November

January 14, 2014

LIBERTY - While school officials may still ask voters in the township for a new levy, the measure likely will not appear on the May ballot.

Liberty Local Schools Superintendent Stan Watson told the Tribune Chronicle late Monday the school would not seek additional monies until the November general election at the earliest.

"We're not really sure yet if we'll do that," Watson said.

Discussions about the district's financial status are ongoing, Watson said.

Liberty schools have been in fiscal emergency since July 2011. Due to this designation, the district is mandated to take part in meetings with a state oversight commission.

The commission, which works in conjunction with the district to right the financial issues, recommended in October that the board consider a new levy.

Watson said officials will continue discussing the option of a new levy at a joint meeting between the commission and the school board in February.

In addition, while no new levies are likely on the May ballot, the school board did vote Jan. 5 to include two renewal levies on the ballot.

The first is a 3.65-mill levy for general operations, which costs the average taxpayer of a house with a $100,000 valuation $127.75 annually. The second is a 1-mill levy for capital improvements that costs $31.50 annually for an owner of a $100,000 home.